Page 150 of Little Sunshine

My alarmed gaze shot to Ash, and I was tempted to throw myself out of the room to avoid hearing the rest of the conversation—bindings or not.

He must’ve known it, too, because his hand covered my bare thigh to keep me in place.

His father’s voice was filled with the same kind of warning Ash usually aimed my way. “Lynn.”

“What? I’m just excited. When’s the last time he had a girlfriend? All he does is work, work, work. I know he loves what he does, but he can’t give me grandbabies with his work.”

No amount of effort could’ve stopped the unintelligible noise that escaped me.

Thankfully, it was drowned out by his father. “The eleven we have aren’t enough?”

Ash didn’t seem fazed by any of it.

“There’s no such thing as too many grandkids, Joseph Cooper.” She looked back to the screen. “Vi said the poor dear was in a car accident, though.” His mother was on the phone. She was a stranger. Yet her genuine concern for me was clear as day. “Is she doing okay?”

“Yeah, Ma, she’s good now.”

“That’s good. The drivers in that city act like they need to race everywhere. Are they worried the casinos are going to close if they aren’t fast enough?” She shook her head. “Well, let her know we say hi and we’re glad to hear she’s okay.”

No wonder Ash is how he is.

Who would I have been if I had a mother who worried about strangers instead of a mother who never even worried about her own daughter?

Envy wasn’t a new emotion for me. If I allowed myself to feel it every time someone had more than me, I wouldn’t ever be able to feel anything else. I wouldn’t be able to do anything else.

Yet after witnessing the easy conversation between Ash and his parents, the bitter taste of it coated my tongue. For the first time, though, I didn’t curse the universe and fate. I didn’t spiral.

If it weren’t for my bad luck, I wouldn’t be in Ash’s bed right then. I’d take that silver lining.

Ash squeezed my thigh tighter, offering support I didn’t need. “I’ll let her know, Ma. I’m sure she’d love to say hi to you guys, but she’s tied up right now.”

Never mind throwing myself out of here.

I’m throwing him out.

Just as soon as he unties me.

After a sweet goodbye, Ash tossed his phone to the side.

“I can’t believe you took a FaceTime call with your parents in front of me.”

“I didn’t. I took it downstairs.”

“You did that and forgot the coffee. You’re lucky I don’t kick you,” I seethed.

“Go ahead.”

I lifted my foot.

He stroked a finger from my shoulder down across the rope. “I know plenty of ties that involve the legs.”

I dropped my foot.

“Smart girl.” Turning me carefully, he quickly undid the rope. “While I was on the call with Ma, Maximo messaged that he needs me early today.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Usual bullshit.” Since that wasn’t reassuring and I likely didn’t look appeased, he pressed his thumb against my frown. “There is a boxing event this Friday. The bigger the event, the more VIPs roll in. The more VIPs, the more bullshit.”

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